Cryptographic machine.



H. A. CORBETTfiL J. W. MORRIS.

CRYPTOGRAPHIC MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1912.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

I venture M Att HARRY A. CDRBET'I AND JAMES WILLARD MORRIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS T9 THE SINPAR CGlVlIPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CRYTOGRAPHIC MACHINE.

Application filed November 15, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY A. Comm'r'r and James ll nlnxnn Mourns, a subject of? the King of Great Britain and Ireland and a citizen of the United States, respectively, residing in the borough of lllanhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Cryptographic Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanylng drawings, which form a part thereof.

Our invention relates to cryptographic machines, and more particularly to a ma chine which is adapted to convert grammatically correct or code copy into a cipher message, and vice versa.

In order that our invention may be more fully understood, we will first describe, broadly, the general mode of operation of the machine, and will then describe the particular form of machine shown in the drawings, with the operation of this particular machine.

In cryptographs or secret codes, there are two primary essentials, to wit :that the message must be readily indited and tran scribed by means of a key, and the key must be so complex that a message may not be readily deciphered even by those skilled in suchmatters. In our machine We have endeavored to secure these two results by mechanically assembling the different letters or characters constituting a message, without necessitating any mental labor on the part of the sender; by mechanically transcribing the message in the same manner; and by providing a key Which consists solely in an adjustment of this machine. By this means we are not only enabled to greatly expedite the compiling of a cipher message, and the transcription or deciphering thereof, but are enabled to vary the en tire code at any time by a mere readjustment of the machine, it being merely necessary that the adjustment be known to the receiver of the message.

In each machine, we employ a movable member having thereon preferably the let ters of the alphabet and the punctuation marks, this indicating device being movable, and preferably rotatable. In connection with this movable member, We use selective means whereby any letter or character thereon may be selected and said memher so actuated as to normally bring this Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 19118.

Serial No. 731,592.

letter to place, or impart variable movement thereto in a degree which would normally have this result. In order to have the letter which actually comes into this position, however, differ from that selected by said selective means, we provide means acting upon said movable member, which will impart movement thereto independently of said selective means, thus presenting in the operative position a letter or character differing entirely from that which the selective means is actuated to bring to place. These last named means constantly vary the operative relation of the movable member and the selective means, so that upon each succeeding operation of the machine, even if the independently operative mechanism be inoperative, the letter or character brought to place by said selective means will rarely, if ever, be that selected by said means, although the extent of operation of the selective means will be such as Would normally bring the letter indicated thereby to place. Hence the result of the actuation of the machine will be that while the operator, through the selective means defines a certain sequence of letters constituting the Words of a message, the movable member will be so actuated as to indicate an entirely difi'erent sequence of letters which have no apparent meaning. Inasmuch as in a sequence of operations of the machine, or actuations of the selective mechanism, the same letter will not be repeated regularly, and inasmuch as the actual letters or characters indicated on the cryptogram are arbitrarily brought to position by means independent of said selective means, it is apparent that in a message the same letter Will not be likely to be represented by the same character more than once. To still further complicate this condition, We so construct and arrange our machine that the movements of the movable member under the independently operating means acting thereon, are irregular and erratic, this irregularity being under the control of the operator so that the same conditions may be caused to exist in the machine used in transcribing or decipheringthe message. By Way of example, we may construct our machine so that the. movable member Will be acted upon by the independently operating means upon the first actuation of said movable member; Will not be acted upon for two movements of said movable member; Will then be acted upon son or by any of twice in succession, and then will not be acted upon for one or more movements of the movable member, etc. The exact order of activity and inactivity of this actuating means may be determined at will by the operator, but this order cannot be determined by: anybody unless they have definite information. To guard. against any possibility of a code being learned, this order may be changed at the will of the operator at any time, and the entire results of the actuation of the machine modified accordingly.

Another way of modifying or changing the code would be to merely start or set the independent actuating means at an entirely different point from that previously used, thus preserving the original order except ,as to the initiation thereof. As for example, instead of having the independent actuating means operative upon the first actuation of the indicating means, said independent means may be rendered inoperative upon the first actuation of the movable member; be actuated twice in succession following, and so on in the same order as in the first instance, the relative order of actuation being re sumed after one complete cycleof said independent actuating means.

In fact by very slight adjustments of the machine, the different combinations of letters resulting from its actuation may be varied infinitely, and changed so quickly that it is practically impossible by comparithe ordinary laws or rules governing the deciphering of cryptograms, to determine or fix upon any key by means of which a message may be deciphered.

By reversing the order of the letters or characters upon the movable member, and the movements imparted to said movable member under said selective means, and causing the independent actuating means to act upon said movable member in the same manner as in operating the movable member in formulating the cipher, or by actuating the movable member in the same direction as the selective means, and reversing the operative effect of the independently operative means upon said movable member, the erratic movement of said movable member may be duplicated in the reverse, assuming of course, that all of the operative parts of the machine including said movable member and said independent actuating means, are set as in formulating ,the cipher, and the original message or the letters originally selected by the selective means, may be brought to place to transcribe "the cipher message. For example, if in formulating the message, the letter j is selected by means of the selective means, this letter will be first brought to place by the selective means, but the independently operating means acting upon the indicating means will impart to said movable member additional movement so as to shift the means to bring the letter z to place. Thus, while the letter has been selected, the result of this selection is to present to the operator in the cryptogram, the letter z. In transcribing, however, the operator will select the letter 2 which appears upon the cipher, and by moving the movable member in the opposite direction will bring this letter to place. The subse: quent actuation of the movable member by the independently operative means, however, will again shift the movable member so that instead of the letter z appearing to the operator, the letter j will appear in its stead.

Inasmuch as the independent actuating means shifts the position of the movable member each time said means are operative thereon, it is apparent that with the succeed ing actuation of the various selective means, the movement of the movable member will be such as would normally tend to bring the letter or character thereon corresponding with the selective device actuated to place, but that this will not actuallyoccur because of the various displacements of said movable member duringthe prior operation of the machine. In other words, the movable member must be capable of movement under the selective device to a variable predetermined extent, according to the letter or character selected. With each actuation of the independent operating means, however, the relative position of the movable member and of the selective means is varied so that while with the actuation of any selective means, the movable member is actuated to a certain predetermined extent, the result is that the letter brought to place will not correspond with that selected by said selective means.

In the accompanying drawings, we have shown the invention applied to a certain well known type of typewriting machine, in connection with which type of machine our invention has peculiaradaptability.

The invention is not limited in its use, however, to this particular type of machine, and the showing of the drawings is merely for the purpose of illustrating one, and the preferred, application of the invention.

Referring to'the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mechanism for carrying out our invention; showing those portions of the typewriting machine cooperating therewith; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the mechanism for actuatingthe controller; Fig. 4 is a view showing two keys for use upon amathine for both writing and transcribing cipher messages; and Fig. 5 is a'detail view of the means for converting the machine from, 125

a sending to a transcribing machine.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout" the several views.

In the accompanyin drawings, we have shown at a a movable member comprising 13c a rotary type wheel, having two lines of types or characters thereon, the sequence of one of which is the reverse of the other. Carrying and movable with said type wheel is a ratchet wheel 6. Said type wheel and said ratchet wheel are mounted upon a shaft 0 which also has mounted thereon a star wheel ti parrying a ratchet c acted on by dogs f carried by the wheel I). The star wheel d is keyed to the shaft 0, and this shaft is actuated by means of type bar, not shown, and the rack and pinion mechanism f, the extent of rotation of said star wheel (Z and ratchet b and type wheel a varying according to the letter which it is desired to bring to the printing position. At 9 we have shown an ordinary inking mechanism. The detailed actuating mechanism for the star wheel at is old and well known in this art, and comprises no part of this invention, and we have therefore shown merely that portion of a machine necessary to show the :11) plication of our invention thereto. The ratchet wheel 6 and type wheel a are actuated through the pawl and ratchet mechanism e f and this mechanism also permits the independent actuation of the said type wheel mechanism to vary the position of the type wheel relative to the star wheel (i in a manner which will appear more fully hereinafter.

Mounted adjacent to and normally below the star wheel (Z is a reciprocatory slide it adapted to be forced outwardly into position. where it will be engaged by the ratchet after said ratchet and the type wheel a have been rotated to the extent determined by the actuation of the mechanism f, this slide being adapted to vary the position of the type wheel a and ratchet 7) relative to the star wheel (Z a distance equaling the space of one letter with each engagement of its operative parts.

Mounted adjacent to the slide it is a ratchet wheel a which contains teeth corresponding in number with the number of characters contained in each sequence of letters or characters upon the wheel a. Act ing upon said ratchet wheel is a springpressed pawl y mounted upon a reciprocatory carrier j which carrier receives one impulse through the member 7' with each oscillatory movement of the shaft 0. This impulse is against the tension of the spring 7' which is acted upon by the plunger j, this spring 1' restoring the carrier j to normal after each actuation thereof from said member.

To prevent an overrunning of the ratchet i, we provide a detent pawl 3' carried upon a spring shank under the control of the adjustment screw y' Rotatable with the ratchet a is a controller disk k, the periphery of which is divided into sectors corresponding in number with the number of teeth upon the ratchet 1i and the number of characters in each sequence upon the wheel 0 i kbout the periphery of this controller disk It a sequence of notches are formed, the location and nature of which notches is variable to any desired extent.

To permit the operator to vary the arrangement of these notches, we divide the periphery of the controlling plate is by means of a sequence of saw cuts, spaced at equal distances apart, so that the notches may be formed by removing the metal between any succeeding saw cuts. In other words, the controlling disks may have the number of notches about the periphery of same increased at will by the operator, thus changing the entire sequence or order of notches by merely breaking out a portion of the periphery of said disks as defined by two succeeding saw cuts. This controlling disk 1: is the element which imparts the erratic, independent variable movement to the type wheel or indicating device, and by means of the controlling disk is, the number of combinations or codes which may be pro duced by varying the relation and number of notches is infinite.

To permit the removal of one controlling disk is and the substitution of another, we mount this disk as well as the ratchet wheel 1'- by means of a pivot screw Z passing through a slot in the slide it. The outer end of the slide his provided with an antifriction roller it, adapted to enter any of the notches about the periphery of the disk is, and thus permit a forward thrust of the slide 71. under the control of the spring m which will bring the forward end of this slide into position to be engaged by the ratchet wheel 1) upon the reci 'irocatory movement of the shaft c.

When using our invention in connection with a typewriting machine employing a type wheel, two series of letters or characters occupying parallel lines and having the same sequence but in a reverse order, are employed. In inditing, one row of these letters or characters is used, and in transcribing or deciphering, the other row is used, the wheel being shifted in the same manner as is ordinarily employed for bringing upper or lower case letters into the printing position with this type of machine. This mechanism is old and well known in the art, and in Fig. 5 of the draw ings, we have shown such a mechanism which comprises a pivotal arm n adapted to engage the lower end of the shaft 0 to move it and the wheel axially thereof. This rocking arm is actuated by the lever n under the control of the shift key a At 0 we have shown an old and well known locking means by means of which the machine may be set for either line of keys.

The operation of the herein described device is substantially as follows, reference being had particularly to the specific form of mechanism shown in the drawings, which however. is not essential to our invention: In inditing a communication of any kind, the message may be put in proper grammatical form, or code words may be used, as desired, whether this form be merely a mental process or a presentation of the original message. The letters of the 0riginal message in their order are then used in actuating the selective means, or the keyboard of the machine, as indicated in Fig. 4. As each key lever is depressed, the movable member or type wheel a which normally is set so as to cause the actuation of any key to bring the letter corresponding with that key to the printing position, is rotated to an extent which under normal conditions would bring this letter to the printing position. In other words, the movements of the type wheel underthe control of the several keys, is the normal operation of a machine of this character. This rotation of the type wheel occurs during the first portion of the down stroke of said wheel, the ratchet cl and shaft 0 being locked prior to the latter or printing portion of the stroke of the wheel. During this down stroke, the controlling means or disk is is actuated through the ratchet i pawl j and carrier 7" under the control of the member j thus rotating this disk is one notch with each reciprocatory movement of the type wheel. If by this rotation of the disk is one. of its notches is brought to, a position where the slide it will be projected by the spring m into the path of the ratchet wheel b-simultaneously with, or prior to the initiation of the latter or printing portion of the down stroke of the said type wheel, while with the first letter at the actuation of this stroke the letter selected by the selective means will be inthe printing position, the completion of this portion of the stroke will cause a rotation of the ratchet wheel 6 and with it the type wheel a one letter space, thus causing the letter printed to differ from that selected, and throwing the type wheel out of position one letter space. Upon the restoration of the type Wheel to normal, this wheel will therefore be so positione l relative to its actuating means that the operation of the latter, or of any key thereof, will impart the normal movement to the type wheel, but will not bring the letter indicated by that key to the printing "position. Upon the successive actuation of the selective means, this operation will be repeated according to the location and arrangement of the notches about the disk Sometimes the type wheel will receive movement in excess of that received from the actuation of its controlling means, or type keys, and at other times it will receive only the movement imparted thereto by this means. The periods of actuation of the type wheel under the slide]: will vary according to the arrangement of the notches, and as there are twenty-eight such notches, one for each character, or as any multiple of twenty-eight may be used, upon this disk, it will be seen that a great variety of combinations may be secured. Furthermore, by merely shifting the disk in one or more spaces, an entirely different combination may be secured, thus multiplying the first combination by the number of times which this disk may be shifted, it being understood that the shifting of the disk not only varies the first letter of the code, but also all of the subsequent characters during each rotation of this disk. Similarly, variance of the code may be secured by substituting a disk having a different arrangement or sequence of notches or recesses, thus again multiplying the capacity as to variation of the code.

Another mode of changing the code would be by turning the wheel a itself one or more spaces.

It will be observed that the determination of the code is thus entirely mechanical and that no fixed rule of solution can be determined.

In transcribing the cipher, it is merely necessary to reverse the process heretofore described. In the machine shown in the drawings, when transcribing, the disk is is set in the same manner as in indit'ing the message, and the type wheel a is set in the same position. The positioning of these parts is all that is necessary for the receiver to know in order to transcribe or decipher the message, and without this knowledge, it is impossible for the message to be transcribed or deciphered.

Let us assume that the sender and the receiver understand that a disk of a certain number is to be used, and set at a certain point, and that the type wheel is always to be set at normal. With this information, a .message may be sent and deciphered without danger of being deciphered by those not having this information. If it be desired to change the disk 70 or to change the set= ting of this disk or of the type wheel, separate advices may be forwarded or separate code words may beused to indicate thesetting point, and in fact an infinite number of combinations may be arranged in ad Vance between the sender and receiver, which will provide for the frequent changes of code, and these changes may be accomplished in a fraction of a minute and without reference to code books or the exercise of any great mental efi'ort.

In a. machine such as we have shown in the drawings, the type wheel a, is turned in one direction. for certain letters and in the Kid viii

other direction for other letters, and as it is necessary that the movement of this indicating device or wheel a should be reversed in transcribing or deciphering by the controlling means, I secure this result by the use of the reversely arranged sequence of letters or characters, and the use of a double set of letters upon the keys. In Fig. a I have illustrated this structure. If the letter j to the right be selected in sending, it would turn the wheel a to a predetermined extent to the right, but in transcribing, the letter to the left would be used, which would turn the said wheel to the left to the same extent. The series of letters being reversed in their ,order, the subsequent actuation of the type wheel a. by the plate It would turn the type wheel a. one space, which would bring the letter next to j to the printing position, which letter would correspond with the corresponding letter in the original, grammatically correct, or code word. This arrangement 1s necessary in the type of machine shown in the drawings, as the quantity of movement of the type Wheel must be the same in sending as in transcribing, and the direction of movement must be reversed.

The reverse sequence of the transcribing series of letters upon the wheel a in the form of the invention shown in the drawings, is made necessary by the fact that the slide 72 both in inditing and transcribing, turns the wheel win the same direction. By this arrangementl of the transcribing letters or characters, the same result is secured as through the actuation of the wheel a in the opposite direction by the slide it, and at the same time, one and the same machine is adapted for use hi ifh inditing and in transcribing.

ln the accompanying drawings, we have shown merely one application of our invention, and it is not our intention to limit our invention to this particular type of machine; it being apparent that the underlying principles of our invention may be readily applied to difierent types or characters of ma chines, without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:--

1. A cryptograph machlne embodying therein a reciprocatory support a movable member having thereon a sequence of letters or characters rotatably mounted upon said support, selective means having a sequence of letters or characters co-inciding With those upon said movable member whereby pro-determined successive rotary movements of variable degrees may be imparted to said movable member and a reciprocatory movement'is imparted to said support, means adapted to impart rotary movement to said movable member independently of said selective means, a controlling device whereby said last named means is made intermittently operative and operative connections between said selective means and said controlling device.

2. A cryptograph machine embodying therein a reciprocatory support a movable member having thereon a sequence of letters or characters rotatably mounted upon said support, selective means having a sequence of letters or characters co-inciding with those upon said movable member, means actuated by said selective means respectively for imparting variable pre-determined successive rotary movements to said movable member and reversing said rotary movement of said member a reciprocatory movement is imparted to said support, means adapted to impart movement to said movable member independently of said selective means before said member is brought to the first operative position thereby, a controlling device for automaticallydetermining the 0perative interval of said last named means and operative connections between said seleetive means and said controlling device whereby the movements of said controlling device are synchronized with those of said movable member.

3. A cryptograph machine embodying therein a movable member having thereon two similar sequences of letters orcharacters, the order of the letters or characters in one sequence being the reverse of that of the other, two groups of selectively operative members, operative connections between each of said groups and said movable member whereby the actuation of one group will impait movement to said member in one direction and the actuation of the members of the other group will impart movement thereto in the other direction, means adapted to impart movement to said movable member independently of any of said selective members, a controlling device whereby said last named means is made intermittently operative and operative connections between said selective means and said controlling device.

a. A. cryptograph machine embodying therein a reciprocatory support a movable member having thereon a sequence of letters or characters rotatably mounted upon said support, selective means having a sequence of letters or characters co-inciding with those upon said movable member whereby pro-determined successive rotary movements of variable degrees may be imparted to said movable member and a reciprocatory movement is imparted to said support, means adapted to im art rotary movement to said movable mem er inde endently of said selective means, a rotatable controlling device having a plurality of irregularly arranged operative surfaces thereon whereby said last named means is actuated and operative connections between said rotatable device and said selective means.

5. cryptograph machine embodying therein a reciprocatory support a movable member having thereon a sequence of letters or characters rotatably mounted upon support, selective m ans having a sequence of letters or characters co-inciding with those upon said movable member whereby predetermined successive rotary movements of variable degrees may be imparted to said movable member and a reciprocatory movement is imparted to said support, means adapted to impart rotary movement to said movable member independently of said selective means, a rotatable controlling device having'a plurality of irregularly arranged operative surfaces thereon whereby said last named means is actuated, operative connections between said rotatable device and said selective means and means whereby said controlling device may be shifted in relation to its actuating means to vary its operative effect.

6. A cryptograph machine embodying therein a reciprocatory support a movable member having thereon a sequence of letters or characters rotatably mounted upon said support, selective means adapted to impart reciprocatory movement to said support and rotary movement to said member in both directions tosaid support and to said member, a slide adapted to be projected in the path of said movable-member during the reciprocatory movement of said suppor whereby rotary movement is imparted to said member independently of said selective means, a controlling device whereby said slide is intermittently actuated and connec tions between said controlling device and said selective means;

7. A cryptograph machine embodying therein a reciprocatory support a movable member rotatably mounted on said'support and having thereon two similar sequences of lettersor characters, the order of the letters or characters in one sequence being the reverse of that of the other, two groups of selectively operative members, operative connections between each of'said groups and said movable member whereby the actuation of the members of one group will impart movement to said rotatable member in one direction and the actuation of the members of the other group will impart movement thereto in the other direction and to impart a similar return movement thereto, means adapted to impart a movement to said reciprocatory support, a slide adapted to be projected in the path of said movable memher during the reciprocatory movement of said support whereby rotary movement is imparted said rotatable member independently of said selective means, a controlling device whereby said slide is intermittently actuated and connections between said controlling device and said selective means.

8. A cryptographic machine embodying therein a controlling device consisting of a circular disk having a peripheral bearing surface, said surface being interrupted by one or more notches, said disk having an opening extending therethrough whereby itmay be detachably connected with a rotato a uniform extent with the actuation of any member of said selective means to make an imprint therewith; means imparting variable rotative movement to said rotarymemher, the extent of said movement being determined by the different members of said selective means, and means operative after the termination of the rotative movement of said rotary member, whereby said member receives rotary movement independently of said selective means.

11. A cryptograph machine embodying uTgWser'res-ofiettemwrciraacters, selective means whereby said rotary members is reciprocated to a uniformextent with the actuation of any member of'said selective means to;

make an imprint therewith, means imparting varlable rotatlve movement to said rotary member, the extent of said movement being determined by the different members of said select ve means, means operative after the termination of the rotative movement of said rotary member, whereby said member receives rotary movement independently of said selective means, and con: trolling means for said last named means, whereby said last named means are rendered 1 operative at certain predetermined intervals only.

1E2. A cryptograph machine embodying thereln a reci rocatory, rotary member hZLV? ing a series oi letters or characters, selective means whereby said rotary member is reciprocated to a uniform extent with the actuation of any member means to maize arr imprint therewith, means imparting variable rotative movement to of said selective therein a reciprocatory rotary member hav- 1fl masses said rotary member, the extent of said movement being determined by the diiierent members of said selective means, means operative after the termination of the rotative movement of said rotary member, whereby said member receives rotary movement independently of said selective means, rotary controllingmeans provided with means whereby the operative movement of said last named means is determined, and means actuated simultaneously with the first part of the reciprocatory movement of said support, whereby said controlling means is actuated with each actuation of said support.

13. A cryptograph machine embodying therein a reciprocatory support, a member having a series of letters of characters rotatably mounted on said support, selective means whereby said support is reciprocated to a uniform extent with the actuation of any member of said selective means to make an imprint therewith, means imparting variable rotative movement to said rotary memher, the extent of said movement being determined by the different members of said selective means, means operative after the termination of the rotative movement of said rotary member, whereby said member receives rotary movement independently of said selective means, rotary controlling means provided with means whereby the operative movement of said last named means is determined, a ratchet wheel adapted to impart movement to said controlling means, and means acting simultaneously with the first part of the reciprocatory movement of said support, whereby a step by step movement is imparted to said ratchet wheel.

14. A cryptograph machine embodying therein a reciprocatory, rotary member having a series of letters or characters, selective means wherebysaid rotary member is reciprocated to a uniform extent with the actuation of any member of said selective means to make an imprint therewith, means imparting variable rotative movement to said rotary member, the extent of said movement being determined by the difi'erent members of said selective means, means operative after the termination of the rotative movement of said rotary member, whereby said member receives rotary movement independently of said selective means, rotary controlling means, means actuated simultaneously with the first part of the reciprocatory movement of said support, whereby said controlling means is actuated with each actuation of said. support, a reciprocatory slide, and cooperating means carried by said controlling means and said slide, whereby at predetermined intervals, said slide will be caused to actuate said rotary member during the latter part of the reciprocatory movement thereof.

15. A cryptograph machine embodying therein a rotary shaft,a printing wheel having a sequence of letters or characters there on, a star wheel fixed upon said shaft, a ratchet wheel carried by said shaft and rotatable with said printing wheel, a clutch connecting said star wheel and said ratchet wheel, whereby said ratchet wheel and said star wheel are caused to rotate in unison, and said ratchet wheel and said printing wheel are permitted to rotate independently of said star wheel, selective means whereby said star wheel receives variable rotative impulses, and means cooperating with said ratchet wheel whereby said ratchet Wheel and said printing wheel receive movement at predetermined intervals, independently of said star wheel.

16. A cryptograph machine embodying therein a rotary shaft, a printing wheel having two sequences of letters or characters thereon, the order of such letters or characters in one sequence being the reverse of that in the other, a star wheel fixed upon said shaft, a ratchet wheel carried by said shaft and rotatable with said printing wheel, a. clutch connecting said star wheel and said ratchet wheel, whereby said ratchet wheel and said star wheel are caused to rotate in unison, and said ratchet wheel and said printing wheel are permitted to rotate independently of said star wheel, selective means whereby said star wheel receives variable rotative impulses, means cooperating with said ratchet wheel whereby said ratchet wheel and said printing wheel receive movement at predetermined intervals, independently of said star wheel, means whereby either sequence of letters may be brought to the printing position, and means whereby said selective means may be used to rotate said shaft in a direction, in transcribing, opposite to that in'inditing a message, but to the same extent.

In witnesswhereof, we have severally affiazed hereto our signatures, each in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 11th day of November, 1912.

HARRY A. CORBETT. JAMES WILLARD MORRIS.

Witnesses to signature of Harry A. Corbett:

F. T. WENTWORTH, OTTO MUNK.

Witnesses to signature of James Willard Morris: 1

ELIZABETH M. Momus, MARY A. Tr 'rn. 

